ACTIVITIES and EVENTS
 

Wed 12/2, 6:30pm, Monthly Meeting/Planning Session: Regency Square Library, 9900 Regency Square Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32256

Fri 12/4, 5:00 pm, St. Augustine Art Walk and Christmas Lights: Begin your holidays with a fun evening in beautiful downtown St. Augustine. This is the monthly first Friday event where you stroll from gallery to gallery viewing art - the art varies so that there is always something new and for everyone's taste. National Geographic rates St. Augustine as one of the ten best holiday lighting locations in the world with two million tiny white lights that create a magical atmosphere. The walk is from 5 to 9, and we will meet at the entrance to the San Sebastian Winery, 157 King St. at 5:00. If you cannot be there at 5:00, call me at 6:00, and I will tell you where we are. Event Host: Marta W., 904-635-7170.

Sat 12/5, TBD, Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Ed Austin Regional Park: Come join us for a fun day of golf Frisbee. Even if you aren't great at throwing a Frisbee, if you've ever wanted to try playing a round of Disc Golf on a real Disc Golf course, this is your opportunity! We'll need at first to limit the number of players and then as our members learn the basic rules we can form additional 4-8somes and have a larger number of members on the course the next time. If you have your own discs you can bring them, otherwise discs will be provided. You might want to bring a hand towel to wipe your disc before you throw, something to drink and some bug spray. Wear sneakers or light hiking shoes and NOT sandals, flip flops or high heels. There is a limit of 8 people, so please sign-up only if you are planning on attending and update your RSVP if your plans change. Afterwards we will get a bite to eat; location to be determined later. Leader Chris G., cell 904-536-3822. For more information: http://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/ed-austin-park-fore-palms-disc-golf-course

Wed 12/9, TBD, Annual (Members Only) Christmas Party: BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, (Near intersection of JTB & Gate-by Costco) 4907 Gate Pkwy, Jacksonville 32246.

Sat 12/12, 9:15am, Guana Tolomato State Park Hiking Trail: Come join us for a fun morning of hiking in Ponte Vedra. We will meet at 8:30am at the Jacksonville Southeast Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32256. Not carpooling? We are meeting everyone at 9:15am, at the Guana Tolomato Mantanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve parking lot, located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. 32082. Please use Google Maps for directions. Access to the trails is at the west end of the Guana River Dam. We plan on exploring 10 miles of hiking trails. The rich variety of natural resources include 73,000 acres of freshwater marsh/wetlands, hardwoods/mixed forest, beaches and wildlife. Bring water, energy bar, a hat, bug spray and comfortable hiking boots or walking shoes. Bathrooms and water fountain are located at the beginning of the trail. Directions: From St. Augustine, drive east on SR A1A across the Vilano Beach Causeway. Bear left (north) to stay on SR A1A and go 7.7 mi. (go through Vilano Beach). Directions: From Jacksonville, exit J.T.Butler Blvd./ Ponte Vedra, drive south on SR AIA 17 miles. Admission fee is: $3.00 per vehicle up to 8 people. Leader: Vicki A. For additional information: http://myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/wmas/lead/guana-river/things-to-do/ and http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/gtm/

Sun, 12/20, Avondale’s Luminaria Parade and Christmas Walk: Sun 12/20, 6:00pm, Avondale Luminaries Walk and Ride: Come out and enjoy the Christmas Festivities and Luminaries of the Avondale area. We will meet early around 4:30pm at European Street Café, 2753 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32205, 904-384-9999. The Luminaries start as soon as it gets dark around 6 pm. There will be Christmas caroling, a live Nativity scene at the church and decorated homes along St. Johns Ave. Get into the spirit by catching candy and marshmallows being tossed from the parade of folks in their decorated cars, trucks and various trailers . We have access to a trailer and one member has agreed to pull a trailer so folks can ride in back. If you wish to do this we need volunteers to decorate trailer with lights and wooden railings so they don't fall out. The trailer prep will be done the night before at an address to be disclosed later, also we expect folks riding in trailer to chip in for gas money. The trailer will travel up and down St. Johns Ave. between European Street Cafe and the Avondale area; near Mellow Mushroom restaurant.
http://www.riversideavondale.org/index.php?id=279.

Sat 1/2, TBD, Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Ed Austin Regional Park: Come join us for a fun day of golf Frisbee. Even if you aren't great at throwing a Frisbee, if you've ever wanted to try playing a round of Disc Golf on a real Disc Golf course, this is your opportunity! We'll need at first to limit the number of players and then as our members learn the basic rules we can form additional 4-8somes and have a larger number of members on the course the next time. If you have your own discs you can bring them, otherwise discs will be provided. You might want to bring a hand towel to wipe your disc before you throw, something to drink and some bug spray. Wear sneakers or light hiking shoes and NOT sandals, flip flops or high heels. There is a limit of 8 people, so please sign-up only if you are planning on attending and update your RSVP if your plans change. Afterwards we will get a bite to eat; location to be determined later. Leader Chris G., cell 904-536-3822. For more information: http://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/ed-austin-park-fore-palms-disc-golf-course

* * *   L O C A T I O N   C H A N G E ,   F O R   T H I S   M E E T I N G   O N L Y   * * *
Wed 1/6, 6:30pm, Sidetrackers Monthly Meeting, with a Different Location for January 2016: The library is not able to accommodate our group in January, so we will take our meeting to a fun location. For the month of January only, we will hold our monthly meeting at: Black Creek Outfitters,10051 Skinner Lake Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32246 (Near St Johns Town Center, Across the street from CVS/Costco behind Bono’s BBQ). As a special treat, our guest speaker will be Jack Stucki. Mr. Stucki has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and will share his adventures with us. For more information and directions to Blackcreek Outfitters, see: http://www.blackcreekoutfitters.com. In addition to listening to Mr. Stucki talk about his amazing journey, the 2016 Membership fees are due. A yellow Sidetrackers bandana will be given out at the time your $15.00 annual payment is turned in with a membership form and a Meetup I.D. Number. To be a member you must have attended two events and then complete the Sidetrackers membership form: http://sidetrackers.com/MembershipInformation.htm. You will also be required to provide Mr. Kim with your unique Meetup I.D. Number as well.

Where is that Meetup I.D. information? Well, funny you should ask. To find your Meetup member ID, after you have set up your free Meetup account and logged in, click on your user profile icon at the top (upper right) of your Meetup screen and then click on “settings” in the drop-down list. Your Meetup ID will appear in the first few lines of the Settings screen. Meetup selects a numeric member ID by default when you first join Meetup. You are allowed to change your Meetup User Name and your Meetup User ID. Sidetrackers has no way of knowing or looking up your User ID when you sign up for club activities and events. We must have this information to positively identify club members on Meetup event and activity lists. Mr. Kim will also have blank membership forms for your convenience. See y'all at the meeting.

Sat 1/9, 6:45am,Sapelo Island (GA), Historical Island Tour: Come spend a day in beautiful Georgia! We will be traveling to Darien, Ga. and taking a ferry boat to experience life back in time on the island. We will be touring the remnants of Long Tabby Sugar Mill, the historic community of Hog Hammock, the U of GA, Marine Institute, the beautiful R. J. Reynolds Mansion, the Lighthouse, and we will end up with a stroll on the beach looking for wildlife prior to taking our ferry ride back. We will meet at Panera Bread located at 13271 City Station Dr. in the Rivercity Marketplace promptly at 6:45 AM to sign in, briefly arrange car pools, and to depart sharply by 7:00 AM. If you want to eat, please arrive at 6:30 AM. Rivercity Marketplace is the outdoor mall east of the Jax Int’l airport and the Panera is located next to Ross’s and Michaels. We will travel north to Darien Ga and park near the ferry dock at 1766 Landing Rd in Darien Ga. We should arrive, park, and check in by 8:30 AM so we do not miss the 9:00 AM sharp ferry. We reserved space for 20 Sidetrackers on the tour. Due to the limited number of people, we ask only people seriously interested in attending to sign up. It is unfair to other Sidetrackers and to the public in general if you are one of the 20 to reserve a confirmed spot and then cancel late or do not show up. Please come dressed for the weather, even though you will be on a ferry and tour bus for much of the time. The ferry and tour will proceed even if there is some rain. Bring bottles of water, snacks, sun lotion, and a bright smile. Please bring $ 15 cash for the ferry/tour cost. The tour bus will stop briefly during the tour at a small Hog Hammock store if you desire to purchase snacks, water, etc. We will take the 12:30 ferry ride back to our cars and may briefly see the visitor’s center prior to departing. Please carpool with people with similar interests and time constraints. Some of us will want to eat lunch at a local Darien restaurant prior to returning to JAX. http://www.sapelonerr.org/visitor-center/visit-sapelo-faqs/
Co-Leaders: Maureen F., cell 904-705-3377; Mr. Kim Luffberry, cell 904-610-5029

Sat 1/16, Mountain Biking -TBD

Sat 1/23, 8:00am, Hiking Adventure at Etoniah Creek State Forest in Florahome, Florida. Come join us for a fun day of hiking in Putnam County. We will meet at McDonalds on US 17, by 295 South across from the Orange Park Kennel Club in Orange Park. Etoniah Creek State Forest is a state forest in Putnam County near Florahome, Florida. This area in the scenic hike thru bottomlands of hardwoods with steep sloping banks, ravines, sinkholes, several creeks plus home to a variety of wildlife. The area is home to the black bear, fox, turkey, bobcats, deer and the endangered fox squirrel. This forest is diverse in several trees, plant life and the disappearing Etoniah Rosemary plant. This hike is moderate and the distance is around 5-7 miles. For those hikers interested in doing some more of the Florida Trail, we will try to do some of the Florida Trail as well as some of the blue forest trail. With the warmer weather, this would be a good warm-up for longer hikes later in the year, such as The Big Oak Trail, also part of the Florida Trail. Please dress accordingly for the weather. Bring bug spray, water, a camera and snacks. Please be sure you don't over estimate what you can do with these warmer weather and proper clothing and plenty of water is a must. The drive to the trailhead from McDonalds should be about 1 hour and hike should be around 2 hrs. Folks be advised that we will leave cars of those carpooling on the way out at Winn Dixie off US 17 / Kingsley. Vic Corrales leader 904-5172321, I will have maps and directions. Additional information available on: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Etoniah-Creek-State-Forest

Non-members and their guests must fill out a liability waiver form, available here, before participating in any Sidetrackers event or activity.  Please note that Meetup group membership alone is not the same as Sidetrackers club membership.  For more information please visit our Membership page.

Additional information about these activities and events may be announced at monthly meetings and on our Meetup.com/Sidetrackers trip reservation pages.

2016 Monthly Meeting Schedule.  Locations Will Be Announced.
MONTHLY MEETINGS are always on the first non-holiday Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
and the location may vary.  Subscribers to our Meetup.com group receive an automatic reminder message in their email two days before the meeting.

The Sidetrackers Newsletter
Our newsletter is maintained by Chris who can be reached by email at newsletter 'at' sidetrackers.com.
If you have any comments about the newsletter, or if you have material to submit for inclusion in the
next monthly newsletter, please send email to newsletter 'at' sidetrackers.com.

To Become a Sidetrackers Member
Members pay a small annual fee to help share the annual cost of maintaining this web site and the small costs of running the club.  Members are not required to submit a Guest Waiver form at each Sidetrackers trip, activity or event.  Membership applications are accepted throughout the year.  Please visit our Membership page, or send questions and comments to membership 'at' sidetrackers.com.

The Sidetrackers Web Site
Our web site is maintained by Frank who can be reached by email at webmaster 'at' sidetrackers.com.  Please contact Frank if you have any corrections, photos, or other items of interest from any current activities. We will be pleased to consider your suggestions concerning the web site content.

In Case You Were Wondering...
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